I thought about buying a new pair of shoes today. As I drove past REI and remembered their great selection, I got excited. I imagined trying on a handful of pairs and walking out with a new addition to my fairly lame wardrobe.
But then I remembered a quote from an interesting book I’m reading and decided against it.
“Dopaminergic excitement (that is, the thrill of anticipation) doesn’t last forever, because eventually, the future becomes the present. The thrilling mystery of the unknown becomes the boring familiarity of the everyday, at which point dopamine’s job is done, and the letdown sets in.”
The truth is that I don’t need new shoes. I was just bored and was captivated by the thought of shopping for something new.
Sound familiar?
Our quest for a feeling leads us down many paths filled with fleeting enjoyment.
Long-term contentment rarely comes from a purchase.
CJ McClanahan
Speaker, Advisor, Recovering Overachiever
P.S. Interested in going deeper? Listen to Happiness Is Free and Easier Than You Think from the Success 2.0 podcast.
